NSAIDs

It's been several months since I've written about the controversy over nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Derammax and Rimadyl, used to treat dogs for arthritis.

While the drugs can greatly improve the quality of life for some dogs, they also have been linked with fatal side effects in certain cases. Activists have been working toward ensuring that dog owners are better informed before they administer these drugs and that the animals are tested to make sure they're suitable candidates.

Attempts to address this issue in Pennsylvania, either by changing the state Board of Veterinary Medicine's rules of professional conduct or through legislation in the state Senate, haven't succeeded so far, even though both the federal Food and Drug Administration and the companies that make these drugs agree that dog owners should be informed of potential risks when the drugs are prescribed. In some cases, dog owners have argued that if they knew what side effects to watch for, their companion animals might have been saved.

Demitry Herman, a Schnecksville man whose miniature schnauzer Jetta died a week after Derammax was prescribed for her limp, became an activist on the subject of better informing dog owners when these drugs are prescribed. As he recently wrote Teresa Lazo of the state veterinary board, "Our group's campaign is not and has never been about punishing veterinarians, the veterinary profession, or making legal recoveries. We all lose if that is this campaign. Rather, our group is concerned that animal owners are properly and fully informed of their choices and potentials to treat, as many consider, a member of their family."

I raise the subject again today to share an article in Trend Magazine, published by the American Animal Hospital Association. This large worldwide trade group adds another voice to the call for better-informed consumers. Here's the link.

Besides advocating for the veterinary board to get moving, one reason I like writing about this occasionally is that I know there are dog owners out there who continue to lose their pets under these circumstances and begin searching for information. If any of them stumble across this posting, I encourage them to visit the Dogs Adverse Reactions Web site, which has many links to advice, news articles and other information on this subject.

Congratulations for keeping this important issue in the forefront. PA Senator Stack has reintroduced the Veterinarian Practice Legislation. SB 504 is the Client Information Sheet Legislation. SB 505 requires veterinarians to conduct blood tests when such tests are recommended by drug manufacturers. SB 504 and SB 505 was co-sponsored by Senators Browne, Boscola, Costa, Fontana, Logan, Ferlo. Numerous articles have been written, even in the PA SPCA's Animaldom. Pennsylvania needs to have the laws changed now!

Posted By: Denise Dost | Mar 7, 2007 12:58:48 PM

Thank you for continuing to write about this. My dog is alive because I received the information I needed in time. While I did not receive it from the veterinarian when the drug was prescribed, thanks to the efforts of individuals such as you, I was able to locate the Client Information Sheet online. I cannot fathom why anyone would be opposed to requiring this information to be given out by veterinarians.

Bill, we sincerly appreciate you addressing this issue now and then the way you do. I am getting all kinds of calls from people with questions looking for answers, all as a result of your keeping this campaign alive in the community. Many have told me their vets down play the damage an NSAID can do saying its just 'internet chatter'. And of those area vets that I do speak to that do agree with me that the dog owner should be getting the CIS information, those vets will not come forward in full support of our campaign. I just don't understand it. We've proved our point beyond a reasonable doubt, the FDA CVM has created two publications highlighting safer NSAID use methods, and the AAHA has stated the vet has the responsibility of legal 'informed consent' and a legal 'duty to warn'. Regardless, we will keep up our campaign to create better and stronger awareness avenues to allow dog owners access to this CIS information with or without the vets help. Sooner or later the laws will change. Until then, we thank you Bill for your help in continuing this campaign to alert dog owners to the potential of adverse reactions with unsafe NSAID use.

Posted By: Demitry Herman | Mar 9, 2007 2:35:56 PM

Final rulemaking of the State Board of Veterinary Medicine regarding recordkeeping was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 14, 2007. The document may be found at www.pabulletin.com. It is in volume 37, no. 28.
The Board's rulemaking regarding professional conduct has not yet been published as final rulemaking.
Both of these new regulations include provisions relating to the veterinarian's duty to ensure that clients are well-informed about treatment options for their animals.

Posted By: Teresa Lazo | Sep 1, 2007 8:49:08 AM

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